Sir Jim Ratcliffe officially arrives at Manchester United as the Premier League’s second richest owner with fans filled with optimism for the future.
His £1.3billion minority stake may have only just been ratified by the league but he has already been getting down to work, meeting with fans and holding meetings with club staff. Right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford is currently conducting an extensive audit of the club ahead of a boardroom shake-up.
Ratcliffe is in charge of sporting matters and will essentially be the figure that oversees the day-to-day running of United. The Glazers, who will look after the commercial departments, will still technically have the final say on matters as majority shareholders but they are expected to give INEOS the full reins on football decisions.
That includes transfers and contract negotiations. Ratcliffe is spying an overhaul of the recruitment department with incoming CEO Omar Berrada pinched from Manchester City and Newcastle chief Dan Ashworth being targeted for the sporting director role.
The club were afraid to spend in the January window due to Premier League finance rules, following a splash of around £400m over the last two years. Indeed, Erik ten Hag said in the final week of January that there was “no space” for even loan recruits.
Despite his estimated net worth of £29bn, Ratcliffe will still have to adhere to the same money parameters as all other Premier League clubs. That means there will be no care-free spending, but his arrival does open up for headspace for United.
Premier League clubs are only allowed to lose £15m of their own cash over a three-year period under Financial Fair Play rules. However, owners can take on up to £90m more debt upon themselves in that timespan which allows for more manoeuvrability.
With the Glazers failing to invest their own equity during their tenure, United have been forced to operate at the lower threshold. FFP deficits can be offset by incoming revenue, profits and general sales, all of which will have helped United in recent years.
Should Ratcliffe accept the burden of shouldering those potential £90m debts, it would free up more headroom in which United can operate. The 71-year-old has meanwhile pledged to invest $300m into club infrastructure in 2024.
Investment into academy teams and infrastructure are not counted towards FFP so Ratcliffe’s plans for the club’s Carrington training complex and Old Trafford would not count towards finance limits.
Ultimately, Ratcliffe’s arrival will not shift the goalposts regarding the ultimate financial parameters United need to stay within, but his investment does potentially make the safety net a little larger.